Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural

Main menu

Tag: Mottisfont

Post navigation

Overblown, blowsy, beautiful, fragrant, lush, a little ragged, absolutely in need of some serious dead-heading – but equally glamorous and hopelessly romantic, there are no rose gardens quite like Mottisfont. Soulful, they inhabit the walled gardens of this ancient priory, clambering through the many venerable apple and pear tress, hopelessly constrained by box or lavender, with mellow brick walls to clothe, perennials to showcase (see the Campanulas …) with the mesmeric and crystal waters of the River Test providing a […]

I’ve an ‘Introduction to Pruning’ workshop to present tomorrow so I’m all about secateurs and shrubs; loppers, ladders and most importantly, looking; and climbers; roses, of course; a foray fruit trees – and trees generally; a touch of soft fruit if there is time. The dead, diseased and dying, and timing. Safety, very importantly. And a nice cup of tea. And by Autumn, I don’t exactly mean ‘Now’. There is little work to be done now, while it has been […]

A pilgrimage to these gardens, for which, so far as the roses are concerned, we have Graham Stuart Thomas to thank principally and for the last 40+ years, the National Trust for preserving and enhancing his original collection of Old Roses. Mottisfont holds the National Collection of Shrub Roses. I met Jonny Bass, the head gardener who took over from David Stone last year too – I saw him last year at the Heritage Rose Foundation Conference when David stepped […]

The River Test runs over chalk through the grounds of the ancient Mottisfont Abbey in Hampshire. Crystal clear waters, live with fish and overhung with willow… stop for a minute and enjoy the birdsong. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont/

The Rose Gardens at Mottisfont Abbey The gardens at Mottisfont Abbey are a year-round attraction. However, during June, when their unrivalled collection of Old-fashioned roses fills two (well, almost three) walled gardens with scent and dazzle the eyes with colour. It is an unforgettable experience. These roses have a historical importance beyond their beauty. They were collected by the late Graham Stuart Thomas, plantsman, writer, artist, photographer and rosarian par excellance. GST was Gardens Adviser to the National Trust from […]

A joint visit today, back to Mottisfont Abbey and on to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Hampshire. This Mottisfont photo gallery taken on a rather damp 21st June last year but looking superb. April cold and then lots of rain held back the flowering of the mostly once-blooming rose collection (the main show was all over by the end of May in 2011 apparently). A superlative collection of 800+ Old Roses and the lasting collection of Graham Stuart Thomas. […]

Post navigation

Teddington Gardener

These pages illustrate my love of plants and gardens, design and creative expression – learning more about horticulture and sharing the knowledge. Here you will find a showcase for my own photography, commentary on plants and places visited, horticultural know-how, a dose of inspiration and a seasonal diary for your garden.